"Except for the fact that they probably don't pay much in taxes at all since they get $15000/yr. in tax credit for their kids."
"However the observation that one poster made that they are paying for themselves without the help of the gov't is incorrect."
Do you think that a $1000 child credit on your tax form is gov't aid?
I earn $100,000 and the gov't says $45,000 of it belongs to them, but because I have 15 children I only need to pay $38,250.
You think this is gov't aid?
But it is true that they do get government help.
BTW, if you are married and make $100,000 in 2003, the federal government wants $22,120, not $45,000.
So if you have 15 kids, you only need to pay about $7000, and that's before your mortgage deduction and other deductions. You most likely won't pay any taxes.
I am not calling that a handout or a transfer payment of any kind, but that most certainly is getting help from the government, and shifting net tax burden onto other people.